Nasal filter element



Sept. 8, 1942.

E. W. ANDERSON NASAL FILTER ELEMENT Filed June 12, 1941 ATTOPA/LYS.

Patented Sept. 8, 1.942

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NASAL FILTER ELEMENT Elmer W. Anderson,Leonia, N. J. Application June 12, 1941, Serial No. 397,689.

'7 Claims. (Cl. 128-148) This invention relates to improvements in nasalfilter devices for excluding irritant and injurious minute particles,such as pollen and dust from being inhaled into the nasal passage of awearer.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a nasalfilter which is external to the nose and which is intended for use inassociation with a nasal filter holder of the kind set forth in myPatentNo. 2,161,607 granted June 6, 1939.

Another object is to provide a nasal filter made of flexible materialand which will conform closely to the shape of the human nose and to itsadjoining facial mergings, such as where the nose. joins into and mergeswith the upper lip, and also where the sides of the nose join into andmerge with the cheeks.

One of the important features of the invention is to provide-a closesnug fitting nasal filter so that there is no leakage of air around itand at the same time so that only a very light pressure is needed tohold it in position.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a nasal filter which willhave a neat appearance when in position on the wearers face-andachieving this purpose first by taking up a minimum of facial area;second by having its surfaces smooth, wrinkle free and without anybunching up or gathering together of excess material; third by having asmoothly rounded end for the tip of the nose instead of a sharplypointed peak; and fourth by having its outline in the full face viewgiving a straight line appearance.

Another feature of the invention resides in a nose filter having a nosereceiving pocket constructed of porous fabric, the bottom wall of thepocket which fits beneath the bottom of the nose and covering thenostrils having removable superposed filter sheets whereby the porosityof the bottom of the pocket may be regulated to suit the breathingcomfort of the wearer. A person having a naturally light inhalation mayremove such number of filter sheets so that those remaining in thepocket permit free and easy breathing. However, where it is desirablefor the wearer to have maximum protection as in very dusty conditionsall of the filter sheets are permitted to remain in place. v v

A further feature of the invention is the-provision of a sanitary nasalfilter which is of simple construction and of inexpensive manufacture soas to permit of the disposal of the same after reasonable use withouteconomic loss to the user.

Other features of the invention reside in a nasal filter device whichmay be snugly fitted and secured over the nose of a wearer; which islight in weight and which in covering only a minimum amount of facialarea in the facial regions adjoining the nose has therefore no tendencyto cause facial warmth and perspiration when worn; which is capable ofbeing worn for a relatively long period of time without any-feeling ofdiscomfiture; which maybe worn while talking. eating, and smoking; andwhich may be safely worn while sleeping, for it does not interfere withthe natural respiration of a wearer when relaxed.

Other novel features of the invention will become apparent as thefollowing specification is read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the nasal filter device inposition upon the face of a wearer.

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical transverse sectional viewthrough the nasal filterdevice in worn position.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, butomitting the facial features.

Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the nasal filter device per sewith part broken away in section.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 55 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view on. the line 6--6 ofFigure 4.

Figure 7 is a collective plan view of the several separate parts fromwhich the nasal filter device is constructed.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral I0designates the nasal filter device in its entirety which is constructedof three separate parts, namely a fabric piece adapted to overlie theentrances to the nostrils of a wearer and to fit against the upper lipand which I shall term a fabric base piece A; a filter element B;,and abody piece C adapted to fit over the nose and against the adjacent cheekportions of the wearers face; these several pieces being illustrated inplan and separated condition in Figure 7.

The base piece A is made from a single piece of fabric such as linen,cotton, or'other like flexible porous material and is cut to provide anelongated lip portion ll foldable upwardly lengthwise upon itself on themedial fold line l2 to provide a relatively narrow front wall l3 and alike rear wall I4. Integral with the rear wall l4 and extending from thefree longitudinal edge thereof are spaced apart semi-circular shaped gapcovering fiaps |5-|5. The flaps |5-|5 are equidistantly spaced from themid portion of the wall H for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.Integral with the front wall l3 and extending centrally from the freelongitudinal edge thereof is a bottom wall IS, the same havingrearwardly diverging side edges and a rounded front edge IS. The bottomwall I6 is of a shape conforming substantially to the shape of the underside of a human nose. Th free edges of the bottom wall It are foldableupwardly on the dotted seam line IS. The bottom wall |6is foldable atsubstantially right angles to the wall l3 on the dotted fold line 20.The ends of the dotted seam line |9 terminate in central alinement withthe fiaps |5-|5, for when the wall I4 is folded against the wall l3, theflaps are disposed behind the ends of the dotted seam line l9.

The filter element B consists of a plurality of like superposed porouspaper sheets, each of which is designated 2|. I have discovered that arelatively thin tissue-like paper known under the name of Textilex meetsthe requirement for it is thin, soft, tough, and porous and notdisintegratable by the presence of moisture. Each filter sheet 2|includes an elongated-attaching fiap 22 having a filter body portion 22integral therewith and detachable therefrom by tearing on the tear line22'. The body portion 23 is of a shape and size substantially equal tothe bottom wall l6 to overlie the same as will be hereinafter explained.The flap 22 is of a height substantially equal to that of the wallsv l3and I4 between which it fits and is; of a length shorter than the wallsI! and I4 so as to terminate short of the ends of the said walls -toenable free and easy folding of the ends as illustrated in Figure 3.

The body piece C like the base piece A is constructed from a like porousfabric material which is cut to provide an intermediate side wallportion 24 and opposed angularly extending end portions 25-25. The sidewall portion 24 has a midrounded bottom edge 26 which merges withupwardly diverging straight edges 26'-26', the said edges 25, 26'-26'being foldable upwardly on the dotted seam line 21 which extendsparallel to the said edges. The top edge 28 of the side wall portion 24is straight and its ends meet the top angular straight edges 29-29 ofthe end portions 25-25. A dotted fold line 30 extends parallel to thetop edge of the body piece C on which the edge is folded and stitched toprovide a hemmed edge 3|. Attaching flaps 32-32 extend downwardly fromthe end portions 25-25 for reception between the walls l3 and M of thebase piece A so that when in position between these walls l3 and I4thebottom edges of the flaps 32-32 will touch the fold line l2 of thebase, piece A. With respect to each of the end portions 25-25 the bottomedge of each fiap 32-32 is parallel to the top edge 29-29 and in thecompleted article as shown in Figure 4 the top edges of the attachingtabs T-T will there- .fore be parallel to the bottom edge of th lip-section L.

The side wall portion 24 of body piece ,C is attached or joined to thebottom wall l6 of base piece A by sewing the two pieces together whilefiat in such a manner that dotted line 21 will coincide exactly withdotted line IS, the seam 33 shown so that a smooth external appearanceis obtained.

A line of stitching 34- adjacent to the top edges of the walls I3 and I4secures these walls together and also serves to hold the flaps 22 of thefilter sheets 2| as well as the attaching flaps 32-32 of body piece C inposition between walls l3 and I4. Where the respective surfaces ofbottom wall l6, side walls 24 and end portions 25 intersect or meet at apoint, the flaps |5-|5 act as gap covers, to prevent leakage of air, bytheir overlapping or covering of any gaps that might occur at that pointas a result of accidental slight misalinement of parts in assembling.

When the parts A, B, and C are folded, fitted together and stitched inthe manner described, a nasal filter I0 is produced and which is of ashape as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The finished nasal filter l0 includesa pre-shaped nose receiving pocket P consisting of the bottom wall i6and side wall portions 24, a stack of filter sheets 23 overlying thebottom wall I6, rearwardly foldable attaching end tabs T-T, and adepending lip portion L.

Whereas various means of securing the nasal filter device I 0 inposition on the nose of a wearer may be used, Ihave illustrated inFigures 1 to 3 inclusive the device as being held in wearing position bya nasal filter holder H, of the kind set forth in my Patent No.2,161,607 granted June 6, 1939. The holder H includes a U-shaped frame Fhaving wing plates W-W attached to the respective upstanding armsthereof and which have the ends of an elastic head band D detachablyconnected thereto. Fixed to the wing plates are spring clips E-E havingtheir free ends facing downwardly. In applying the filter device I0 tothe holder H, the top edges of the end tabs T are inserted between thewing plates W and the respective clips E to the position shown inFigures 1 to 3 inclusive. The nose receiving pocket P extends forwardlybetween the arms of the frame F while the forwardly bowed bightportion'of the frame is disposed against the lip portion L. After thefilter device I II has been thus positioned in the holder H, the pocketP is fitted to the nose with the rearwardly folded tabs T fittingagainst the cheeks and protecting the skin against contact with themetal clips E. When the filter device is correctly adjusted to the nose,the filter sheets 23 underlie the entrances to the nostrils while thelip portion L is snugly held against the upper lip by the forwardlybowed bight portion of the frame F. It will therefore be apparent thatthe filter device is snugly held in position over the nose of the wearerand any airbreathed in is drawn through the filter sheets 23. Theporosity of the filter element 2| may be varied to meet the strong orweak inhalation of the user, by tearing. away certain of the sheets 23on the tear line 22'.

From the foregoing description, it will be uning, and will be foundextremely helpful by sufferers of hayfever to prevent pollen and otherirritants from coming in contact with the delicate mucous membranes ofthe nose during natural breathing. The inexpensive nature of the devicepermits of its disposal after a limited use and for sanitary reasons.

Whereas the porous sheets 23 are referred to as filter sheets, they maybe medicated for the relief of head-colds, catarrh, and other nasal orhead ailments. I

If desired, the lip portion L may be made wider to depend over the mouthof the user in instances of use where a mouth shield is desired.

The invention set forth herein constitutes an improvement over the nasalfilter element disclosed in my prior application SerialNo. 263,382,filed March 22, 1939.

While I have shown and described'what I consider to be the mostpractical embodiment of my invention, various changes in construction ascome within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to ifdesired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: i

1. A nasal filter device including a nose shape body constructed ofporous fabricmaterial defining a nose receiving pocket having a bottomwall of a shape substantially conforming to the shape of the undersideof a human nose, a side wall for bridging the nose, a lip portiondepending from the rear edge of the bottom wall, a plurality of porousflexible filter sheets secured to the lip portion and having their freeportions folded into the pocket fiat against the bottom wall, the freeportions of the filter sheets being of a shape substantially conformingto that of the bottom wall.

2. A nasal filter device including a nose shaped body constructed ofporous fabric material defining a nose receiving pocket having a bottomwall of a shape substantially conforming to the shape of the undersideof a human nose, a side wall for bridging the nose, a lip portiondepending from the bottom wall, a flexible porous filter elementcomprising a plurality of like thin paper-filter sheets arranged oneagainst the other, each paper filter sheet being divided by a weakenedtear line into an attaching flap portion and a free body portion, thebody portion being of a shape substantially conforming to the shape ofthe bottom wall, said attaching portions being secured to the lipportion by stitching while the body portions are folded along the tearline into the pocket and lie in suporposed relation over the bottomwall.

3. A nasal filter device comprising a base piece of flexible porousfabric having an elongated lip forming section folded lengthwise uponitself to provide front and rear walls, a bottom wall section integralwith the top edge of the front wall and extending substantially at rightangles thereto, said bottom wall section being of a shape substantiallyconforming to the underside of a human nose; a fabric body piece havinga side wall portion and end portions, the lower edge of the side wallportion fitting against the edges of the bottom wall section andstitched thereto, at-

taching tabs extending downwardly from the end ,through said walls andthrough the attaching tabs and attaching portions which are disposedtherebetween.

i 4. A nasal filter device as set forth in claim 3,

in which the filter element comprises a pack of separate porous papersheets, each sheet having a weakened tear line extending thereacross topermit the tearing away of the free portion thereof.

5. A nasal filter device as set forth in claim 3,

including flexible gap covering tabs integral with the top edge of therear wall of the lip forming section and respectively disposed inalinement with ends of the side edges of the bottom wall section.

6. A nasal filter device including a base piece of flexible porousfabric material having an elongated lip forming section foldedlengthwise upon itself to provide front and rear layers of material, abottom wall section integral with the top edge of the front layer andextending substantially at right angles thereto, said bottom wallsection being of a shape substantially conforming to the underside of ahumannose; a fabric body piece having a side wall portion and endportions, the lower edge of the side wall portion fitting against theedges of the bottom wall section and stitched thereto, attaching tabsextending downwardly from the end portions and being disposed betweensaid front and rear layers, and a line of stitching extending the lengthof the fron. and rear layers and passing through the same and throughthe attaching tabs.

'7. A nasal filter device including a nose shaped body constructed ofporous fabric material defining a nose receiving pocket having a bottomwall of a shape substantially conforming to the underside of a humannose, a side wall for bridging the nose, a lip portion depending fromthe bottom wall, a flexible porous filter element comprising a pluralityof thin paper filter sheets arranged one against the other, each papersheet being divided by a hinge score into an attaching flap portion anda free body portion, the body

